Apple has in essense quietly built a system of infrastructures and support systems around all of the devices and products it produces.
This to me is exactly what I think Apple’s competitors have failed to either notice or respond to. These are also important and essential elements that engender the tremendous customer loyalty and confidence Apple now enjoys, and why other companies have such a hard time going up against Apple.
It is like a football team with the best training facilities, coaches, stadium and fans. They win games they should on paper lose and pack their stadium year after year with adoring fans that spring for season tickets. The city wins wins, as do the players and their agents, area vendors and businesses all profit as a result.
Examples:
- ITunes is the Infrastructure for iPods, iPhones, iPads and media on Macs.
- iCloud is set to become the infrastructure for itunes and those same devices.
- Apple stores are the retail infrastucture and consumer interface supporting everything Apple.
- Apple’s Developer network is the infrastructure supporting the many developers building great apps and software solutions.
- MacWorld though not an Apple production also supported the juncture of customers, developers and media.
Its all interconnected and self-supporting. Competitors can’t easily rally to pick off and compete against one disconnected part. It is almost as if Apple has circled their wagons and geared up for what is to come.